A parliamentary honour has been bestowed upon a regional newspaper group’s former diplomatic correspondent.

Tom Arms, who held the role at Thomson Regional Newspapers in the 1970s and 80s, was presented with a framed Community Hero certificate at a House of Commons reception hosted by Speaker John Bercow for his many charity fund-raising activities and Scout work.

He was awarding the accolade for spearheading a legal battle to save Wandsworth Scout Hut from developers as well as taking part in charity fund-raising triathlons and swimming events.

Tom, pictured below, was one of five community activists honoured at a reception hosted by Wandsworth MP and Shadow Justice Minister Sadiq Khan in The State Rooms, Speaker’s House, in the House of Commons, on Wednesday.

Said Tom, 65, of his honour: “I am delighted to get such recognition. It came as a real surprise.”

American-born Tom received his early journalistic training on the Journal of Commerce in Washington DC.

After moving across the Atlantic he became a trainee reporter on the Falmouth Packet in Cornwall, then joined TRN at the now defunct Evening Echo, Hemel Hempstead.

He was appointed the group’s diplomatic correspondent in 1974 and went on to cover many international stories, including the Cod War and the Falklands War of 1982.

His byline appeared regularly in the Western Mail; The Journal, Newcastle and the Press and Journal, Aberdeen.

He also wrote for the group’s 14 evening titles, including the South Wales Echo, the Edinburgh Evening News and the Belfast Telegraph.

After leaving TRN in 1982, Tom launched Future Events News Service in London, serving many of the world’s leading news organisations.

He later sold his interest in the business to a partner.